Deloitte ©
In the first image, it is assumed that everyone benefits from the same support. Do you think they are being treated equally?
In the middle image, individuals are given different support to make it possible for them to have equal access to the view. Are they being treated equitably?
In the third image, all three can see the view without any support because the inequality was addressed, and the systemic barrier has been removed.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not only about skin colour; it’s about giving people who have talent the opportunity to express that talent. Often, the starting point can be biased, leading those who are not white to question:
a) Whether they possess the required skills, and
b) If they are the best person for the job.
I advocate for DEI policies because I recognise that many talented individuals from minority backgrounds deserve the same opportunities as the majority. In practice, minorities often need to be exceptional to secure white-collar jobs because societal structures have historically disadvantaged them. I think the western world was built on a patriarchal framework by the white majority, and it was not originally designed to include minorities.
Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
““Equal treatment doesn’t always yield equal outcomes.””
